Survey of Arts and Cultural Organizations [2000]

Produced By: The Urban Institute

Funding Agency/Sponsor: Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund

Author:

• Walker, Chris  (The Urban Institute)
• Scott-Melnyk, Stephanie  (The Urban Institute)

Abstract (CPANDA): The Survey of Arts and Cultural Organizations [2000], conducted by the Urban Institute, was part of a series of surveys evaluating the Community Partnerships for Cultural Participation (CPCP) initiative. The study recorded operating characteristics, performance/exhibition venues, audience expansion and diversification strategies, and organizational partnerships of government or not-for-profit art and culture organizations in five geographic areas: the Kansas City metropolitan area; Humboldt County, California; Silicon Valley, California; Southeastern Michigan; and Boston, Massachusetts. The CPCP initiative and the evaluative studies were funded by the Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds.

Methodology (CPANDA) : Surveys were sent by mail to government or not-for-profit art and cultural organizations in five geographic areas. Reminder calls were conducted to achieve a higher response rate. This procedure yielded a total of 553 completed interviews, for a response rate of 33.4%. Organizations selected for inclusion in the survey universe met any of the following criteria: arts/culture NTEE codes; names containing words related to arts and culture; city/government arts or humanities councils or commissions; libraries, excluding university or presidential; operating foundations; historic societies; public radio and TV stations; "Friends of..." organizations; horticultural groups; arts providers that are separately incorporated units of colleges and universities; zoos and aquariums. Community foundations assisted in assessing whether to include specific questionable organizations and categories. The data were collected between February 11 and May 1, 2000.